Jesus. Gabe was pretty much just teasing, especially since it’s impossible to have missed the insinuation. But Ellis is actuallyconsideringit.
“I suppose…I could be amenable to that.” Before Gabe can put together a coherent response, Ellis’ hands slide to his knees. He blinks. “You’re hairy.”
It’s such a blunt statement that a laugh bursts out of Gabe. “Yeah. An ape descendant and all that.” Ellis seems rather fascinated with the discovery, rubbing circles into Gabe’s knees as if gauging the sensation. “What do you think?”
“It’s…different.”
“Good different, or bad?”
“Good.” Ellis doesn’t even pause to think about it. “Definitely good.” His gaze flicks upwards. “Your chest is smooth.”
“Always has been,” he says, just in case Ellis is wondering if he waxes. He tugs on the hem of Ellis’ shirt. “What about yours?”
“Uh, a little hairy. Not much.”
Gabe pushes the shirt up, revealing a sliver of skin and a happy trail disappearing into Ellis’ pants. Mouth suddenly dry, he swallows. “Can I see?”
“Y-yeah.”
They end up nearly chest to chest when Ellis sits up, eyes locking with Gabe’s for a moment.
“Let me.” Gabe stops him when Ellis goes to remove his shirt. He doesn’t just take it off—he glides his hands up Ellis’ sides, rucking the shirt up in the process.
Ellis shudders, his breath hitching when Gabe lets his thumbs brush dangerously close to his nipples. Bingo.
Filing the information away, Gabe finally wrestles the shirt off, struck momentarily speechless when all that exposed skin comes into view. Because Ellis is beautiful on the regular, but without clothes, he’s breathtaking; all smooth, sun-kissed skin and sculpted muscles. There’s a cute smattering of hair—way darker than Gabe’s—around his pecs, growing thicker towards the center and running down all the way to his stomach.
“Take a picture, it will last longer,” Ellis says with a nervous laugh, his ears turning pink. God, he’s absolutely stunning when he’s nervous, which makes it really hard to feel sorry for him.
Swallowing quickly before he starts drooling, Gabe makes a show of reaching into his pocket. “Can I? Thanks!”
Ellis’ hand shoots out to grip his wrist. “What are you doing?”
“Taking a picture,” Gabe says innocently.
Ellis sputters indignantly. “It’s a saying! I was kidding!”
Trying not to laugh, Gabe summons a disappointed expression. Ellis sees right through him, a scowl replacing his panic.
“You dick. You’re just messing with me.”
“Me?” Gabe gives him his best doe-eyed look. “I would never.”
Rolling his eyes dramatically, Ellis makes an attempt to dislodge Gabe and move away. “You know what? I’m going home.”
Using his body weight, Gabe pins him down, keeping him in place with a hand to his chest. “You’re not going anywhere. Not until I’m done with you,” he growls.
A wave of heat slams into him, so sudden and intense it can’t possibly be from him. His lungs convulse, a moan threatening to force itself out of his throat.
He looks at Ellis in shock. When he made the joke about bossing Ellis around, it wasn’t completely unfounded. He’s had a feeling Ellis might appreciate following orders instead of giving them for a while. He still hadn’t expected such a visceral reaction.
“What—what are you going to do to me?”
Gabe allows his lips to stretch into a slow, feral grin. “Nothing you don’t want.” He braces himself on each side of Ellis’ head, bracketing him in, their faces so close they share the same breath. He lets their fronts fit together, biting his lip when he feels Ellis’ erection against his own. “And everything you do.”
Ellis’ shuddering breath caresses Gabe’s lips. He can practically taste the kiss waiting for them.
“I—I don’t even know what that is.”
